SA Rugby and the South African United Rugby Championship franchises are locked in talks over the release of Springboks against Wales in November.<\/b><\/p>\n
The fixture at the Principality Stadium on November 29 falls outside the official World Rugby Test window, with the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers returning to action in the URC<\/a> on the same weekend.<\/p>\n Due to that fact, the franchises are requesting compensation from SARU as they will be deprived of some of their top players who will be on international duty.<\/p>\n SA URC teams\u2019 demands<\/p>\n However, there is a sticking point around the value of compensation, according to Rapport<\/a>, with the franchises asking for R500 000 (around \u00a322 000) per player being used by the Springboks<\/a> \u2013 the report adds that SA Rugby\u2019s counter offer is \u2018much lower\u2019.<\/p>\n These kinds of negotiations are not unique to South Africa, having occurred several times before with England and France, but it is reported that the South African franchises aren\u2019t overly pleased by the fact that the Springboks have scheduled 15 matches for this year.<\/p>\n Not only are players unavailable to the URC teams when they are away with the Boks, but they are also afforded a mandatory eight-week rest period, and the franchises have reportedly argued that the Japan Test should now form part of that rest period.<\/p>\n Exclusive: Full details emerge of Jan-Hendrik Wessels\u2019 ban and Josh Murphy\u2019s role in it<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe are urgently trying to find a middle ground rather than fighting,\u201d a source told Rapport. \u201cIt\u2019s a difficult one to resolve.\u201d<\/p>\n An administrator adds that the negotiations are progressing well and there is no threat of the URC teams denying Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus access to the players.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not a fight, nor is it a case that the Boks from the franchises will not play against Wales,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Bok management team has already received a guarantee that the players will play against Wales; it\u2019s rather a case of finding a middle ground regarding the payment per player for the Tests.<\/p>\n \u201cThe discussions are not unique; it has happened many times before between England and their clubs as well as with France.\u201d<\/p>\n Springbok players who are contracted to Japanese clubs will be available to Erasmus for the Tests against Japan and Wales despite both matches being outside the official international window.<\/p>\n The Bok boss has revealed that the clash against the Eddie Jones-coached Brave Blossoms at Wembley Stadium next week will be used to get matchday minutes into the legs of many of the Japan-based players who haven\u2019t played any rugby since the Rugby Championship. It will also provide the opportunity for injured players to make their returns to Test rugby.<\/p>\n